Torenia plant named ‘DANLOV1201’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Torenia  plant named ‘DANLOV1201’ particularly characterized by plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup- shaped flowers with petals in shades of purple with a yellow blotch on lower petal; cascading bush, which maintains a compact, rounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging baskets; early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate climate; suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade; and good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Torenia sp.

Variety denomination: ‘DANLOV1201’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Torenia plant, botanically known as Torenia sp. of the Scrophulariaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘DANLOV1201’.

The new Torenia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Torenia cultivar withunique petal coloration.

The new Torenia cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in 2003 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female or seed parent is the Torenia ‘TR -2-1003’ (unpatented), and the male or pollen parent is the Torenia ‘TR -2’ (unpatented). The new Torenia cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in April of 2003 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia cultivar by soft cuttings was first performed in May of 2003 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘DANLOV1201’ which in combination distinguish this Torenia as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup-shaped flowers with         petals in shades of purple with a yellow blotch on lower petal;     -   2. Cascading bush, which maintains a compact, rounded plant         habit;     -   3. Vigorous growth habit;     -   4 Densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging         baskets;     -   5 Early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate         climate;     -   6 Suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial         shade; and     -   7 Good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of         15° C. to 25° C.

Plants of the new Torenia ‘DANLOV1201’ differ from plants of the parents, ‘TR -2-1003’ (unpatented) and ‘TR -2’ (unpatented) in the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Female Parent Male Parent New Cultivar ‘TR-2-1003 ‘TR-2’ Characteristics ‘DANLOV1201’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Mature Flower Petal shades of Petal shades of Petal shades of color purple with a pink, with a yel- light blue, with yellow blotch on low blotch on a yellow blotch lower petal lower petal on lower petal Flower size Depth: About 4 Depth: About Depth: About cm 3.5 cm 3 cm Width: About 3 Width: About Width: About cm 3 cm 3 cm Growth habit Cascading bush Cascading bush Bush Flowering 8 weeks from 8-9 weeks from 5 weeks from Response Time planting planting planting

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Torenia ‘DANLOV1201’ is the Torenia ‘DANMOON15’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,996), in the characteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison Cultivar New Cultivar ‘DANMOON15’ Trait ‘DANLOV1201’ (patented) Mature Flower Petal shades of purple with Petal shades of violet and Color a yellow blotch on lower purple-violet, with a yellow petal blotch on lower petal Flower size Depth: About 4 cm Depth: About 3 cm Width: About 3 cm Width: About 3 cm Growth habit Cascading bush Cascading bush Flowering 8 weeks from planting Less than 4 weeks from Response Time planting

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Torenia ‘DANLOV1201’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘DANLOV1201’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘DANLOV1201’ in a hanging planter at 2 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the typical flowers, buds and leaves of ‘DANLOV1201’ at 2 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Torenia ‘DANLOV1201’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘DANLOV1201’ as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Optimal growth conditions include that plants of ‘DANLOV1201’ are grown outdoors in a moderate climate and indoors during the winter season. Irrigation and fertilization are recommended on a regular basis. Plants of ‘DANLOV1201’ are usually grown in full sunlight, but partial shade is required in mid summer. Plants of ‘DANLOV1201’ are fully grown in 2 months from planting a cutting in the summer season and bloom all year-round in a moderate climate. The ‘DANLOV1201’ plants described herein were grown indoors in 13 cm pots in a glass greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, with the day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 25° C. Plants of ‘DANLOV1201’ were fertilized up to a level of 59 ppm N, 35.4 ppm P and 94.4 ppm K.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the ‘DANLOV1201’ plants described is 7 weeks.

-   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Torenia ‘TR-2-1003’ (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Torenia ‘TR-2’ (unpatented). -   Propagation: Tissue culture and soft tip cuttings. -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Bush, cascading.         -   Growth habit.—Rounded.         -   Height.—About 20 cm.         -   Spread.—25 cm to 35 cm.         -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender. Temperatures below 5° C. may             damage plants.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous growth; plants are fully grown in 2 months             from planting cutting in during summer season. -   Stem:     -   -   Color.—Yellow-Green, RHS 144B.         -   Length.—About 20 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Pubescence.—Minimal.         -   Branching.—About 15 to 30 main branches grow from the base             and split into hundreds of secondary and tertiary branches.         -   Length of internodes.—1 cm to 10 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Overall shape.—Triangular.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Size of leaf.—Width: 1.5 cm to 3.5 cm Length: 1.8 cm to 4.5             cm.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Color (mature).—Center color of leaf: Green, RHS 137A Upper             side: Green, RHS 137A Under side: Green, RHS 138B.         -   Color (immature).—Center color of leaf: Green, RHS 138A             Upper side: Green, RHS 138A Under side: Green, RHS 138B.         -   Leaf texture.—Upper: Glabrous with sensible veins Under:             Glabrous with sensible veins.         -   Venation.—Pattern: Anastomotic Color: Upper surface:             Yellow-Green, RHS 150C Lower surface: Green, RHS 143C.         -   Petioles.—Length: 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm Diameter: About 1.5 mm             Color: Green, RHS 143C. -   Flowers:     -   -   Blooming period.—All year round in a moderate climate or in             a greenhouse environment. In Israel, flowering occurs             between March and November outdoors.         -   Flowering response time.—About 8 weeks from planting.         -   Flowering stem.—Flowers appear along the growing stems.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Per stem: About 4 to 6;. Per plant:             About 180 to 220.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 2 to 5 days,             depending on temperature.         -   Type.—Single.         -   Shape.—Overall: funnel form; 5-winged; Corolla tube:             cylindrical or often broadened above; Corolla: 2-lipped, the             upper lip faintly 2-lobed, the lower lip 3-lobed.         -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Flower size.—Depth: About 4.0 cm Width: About 3.0 cm.         -   Bud.—         -   Shape.—Oblong, cylindrical, ellipsoid, 5-winged.         -   Size.—Length: About 1.5 mm Diameter: About 1.0 mm.         -   Color.—Apex: Yellow-Green, RHS 144A Base: Yellow-Green, RHS             144A.         -   Texture.—Pubescence on winged edges.         -   Floral tube.—Length: About 2.0 cm Width: About 0.2 cm to 1.2             cm Color: Outside: Yellow-Green, RHS 146C (base), Yellow,             RHS 11B (middle), and Purple, RHS 76D (apex). Inside:             Purple, RHS 76C (apex) and Yellow-Green, RHS 145D (base).         -   Petals.—Number: Four, fused. Length: Upper Petal: About 1.5             cm; Side Petals: About 1.0 cm; Lower Petal: About 1.0 cm.             Width: Upper Petal: About 2.5 cm; Side Petals: About 1.5 cm;             Lower Petal: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Upper Petal: Overall:             spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused; Side Petals: Overall:             spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused; Lower: Overall:             spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused. Margin: Undulated and             toothed. Color: Mature Petals: Upper Surface: Upper Petal:             Purple: Near apex, RHS N78A, and near base, RHS 76C; and             margin, RHS N78A; Side Petals: Purple: Near apex, RHS N79C,             with centralized RHS N79C, and near base, RHS 76C, and             margin Purple, RHS N79C. Lower Petal: Primarily Purple, RHS             N78A, with Yellow, RHS 4C blotch in the middle near base,             and Purple, RHS 77C color surrounding blotch and near base,             and margin Purple, RHS N78A. Lower Surface: Upper Petal:             Purple: Near apex, RHS 77B, and near base, RHS 77D and             margin, RHS 77B; Side Petals: Purple: Near apex, RHS N78A,             and near base, RHS 77C and margin, RHS N78A; Lower Petal:             Near apex, Purple, RHS N78C, and near base, Purple, RHS 76C             and margin, Purple, RHS N78C. Throat: Upper throat: Purple,             RHS 76D; Lower throat: Purple, RHS 77C. Immature Petals:             Upper Surface: Upper Petal: Near apex, Purple, RHS 77A, and             near base, Purple-Violet, RHS N80C; and margin, Purple, RHS             77A; Side Petals: Near apex, Red-Purple, RHS 72A, near base,             Purple, RHS 77C, and margin Red-Purple, RHS 72A; Lower             Petal: Primarily Red-Purple, RHS 72A, with Yellow, RHS 6D             blotch in the middle near base, and margin Red-Purple, RHS             72A. Lower Surface: Upper Petal: Near apex, Purple-Violet,             RHS N80C, and near base, Purple, RHS 76B and margin,             Purple-Violet, RHS N80C; Side Petals: Near apex,             Purple-Violet, RHS N81A, and near base, Purple, RHS 76B, and             margin, Purple-Violet, RHS N81A; Lower Petal: Near apex,             Purple-Violet, RHS N81B, and near base, Purple, RHS 76C and             margin, Purple-Violet, RHS N81B; Throat: Center of Flower:             Purple, RHS 76B.         -   Sepals.—Number: 5 Length: About 1.7 cm Width: About 1.0 cm             Shape: Two-lobed, 5-winged Apex: Acute Base: Wedge shaped             Margin: Undulated Color: Green, RHS 143C.         -   Peduncle.—Length: About 1.0 cm to 1.7 cm Diameter: About 1.5             mm Color: Green, RHS 143B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 2 pairs per flower, fused Color:             Violet-Blue, RHS 91D Anther: Length: About 0.3 cm; Width:             About 0.6 cm Color: Violet-Blue, RHS 91C Spur: Not Present             Filament: Length: About 1.2 cm; lower filaments are shorter             about 0.5 cm Width: About 0.1 cm Color: Violet-Blue, RHS 91D             Pollen: Amount: Sparse. Color: Yellow, RHS 11D Requirements             for pollination: Young flowers, active pollen, and             receptive, open stigma.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Number: One per flower Length: About 2.6             cm Stigma: Length: About 0.3 cm Width: About 0.3 cm Color:             Yellow-Green, RHS 150D Style: Length: About 1.9 cm Color:             Red, RHS 56D Ovary: Number: 1 Length: About 0.4 cm Width:             About 0.2 cm Color: Green, RHS 143B. -   Seed/fruit: None -   Pest/disease resistance and/or susceptibility: A standard     preventative spray program is sufficient as no susceptibility was     observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Sensitive to temperatures below 5° C. 

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘DANLOV1201’, as illustrated and described herein. 